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Kiwi crowned Volvo Fuelwatch Champion
New Zealand's Johnny Baxter has taken top honours in the on-road category of the annual Volvo Trucks Fuelwatch ChallengeKiwi driver Johhny Baxter has triumphed in Volvo's prestigious fuel economy competition, the Volvo Trucks Fuelwatch Challenge.
Held in Gothenburg, Sweden – also site of Volvo Trucks' global headquarters – Mr Baxter emerged victorious as the most fuel-efficient driver in the on-road category, while Korea's Mr Taehun Kim took out the off-road category.
The combined fuel savings of the winners in each category was recorded to be more than 15 per cent, underscoring the important role fuel-efficient driving can play in generating real-life cost savings and reducing carbon footprint.
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The competition saw contestants from over 13 countries drive either FH or FMX Volvo trucks over specific courses to determine the most fuel-efficient drivers.
The two-day event, which started with a session on driving technique, was the final showdown for national champions from local Fuelwatch competitions that took place throughout the year. More than 4280 drivers participated in this year's local competitions.
The performances of the 11 on-road and seven off-road competitors were evaluated using Dynafleet, Volvo Trucks' online Transport Information System. Dynafleet software monitored fuel consumption in real time and was used to gather accurate information on each driver's performance.
Mr Baxter recorded 10.1 per cent less fuel consumption compared to the other two runners-up. In the off-road category, Mr Kim captured the top prize with a notable achievement of approximately four per cent less fuel consumption relative to the driver in second place.
Mr Baxter, 27, was also one of the youngest drivers participating in the event.
"It feels just amazing being here this evening and to take the top prize in a competition that included some of the world's best drivers," he said.
Mr Kim, meanwhile, offered his own take on the recipe for success.
"Giving it all each day and building up the right skills over time is key to coming out on top of this competition," he said.
Volvo Trucks says the competition margins have the potential to translate into huge savings for operators – as much as a saving of 46,500 litres over the average annual long-haul operation of 150,000 kilometres.
Heléne Mellquist, Senior Vice President of Volvo Trucks International, underlined the wider focus of the event.
"The performances we have seen during this year's Fuelwatch Challenge have re-affirmed our conviction that the role of a skillful driver is pivotal to better profitability for businesses and reduced impact on the environment," she said.
"At Volvo Trucks our biggest commitment is to driving progress for our customers, our industry and society as a whole. Drivers are, without a doubt, an integral part of this commitment. We will continue to help them excel in their profession and get the most out of our trucks."
As this year's winners of the Volvo Trucks Fuelwatch Challenge, both Mr Baxter and Mr Kim will get to visit one of the stopovers of the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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